Center for Gender & Refugee Studies Summer 2013 Refugee and Human Rights Law Clerk Position
About the Organization:
The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), based at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, is seeking candidates for Summer 2013 Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellowship positions. CGRS provides legal expertise, training, and resources to attorneys representing asylum seekers, advocates to protect refugees, advances refugee law and policy, and uses domestic, regional and international mechanisms to address the root causes of persecution. For more information about CGRS, visit the website. Stronach Fellowship positions are not funded. CGRS encourages Fellows to seek outside funding to support their work.
Job Description:
CGRS’s Law Clerk functions as a full–time fall law clerk for 10- to 12-week terms. Law Clerks are involved in the full range of CGRS’s work, and work closely with CGRS lawyers and staff in other projects as needed. For example, projects might include:
- Researching and writing on key legal issues
- Assisting in the various stages of appellate advocacy
- Analyzing emerging asylum law trends
- Developing training and technical assistance materials
- Conducting national policy work
- Engaging in international human· rights projects
- Given the small office and high volume of work, law clerks must be able to work with minimal supervision.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment human rights and social justice
- Strong research and writing skills
- Experience or background in asylum or international human rights law
- Completion of three semesters of law school is strongly preferred
- Ability to work independently and within a team
- Ability to protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications
- Fluency in Spanish or French is desirable, but not required
Application Procedure:
Submit a cover letter, resume, brief writing sample (5-10 pages), and list of three references via email with the subject line “Summer 2013 Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellowship.” The cover letter should explain how the applicant’s experiences relate to the mission and work of CGRS. The cover letter should also indicate eligibility for work study as well as prospects for securing external funding.
Applications will be accepted starting September 7, 2012 and until October 14, 2012. No phone calls, please.